Netflix makes first major entry into live men’s football with World Cup deal

Netflix has made its first major foray into live men's football by acquiring exclusive rights to broadcast the 2030 World Cup in Spain. This move follows Netflix's successful deal with FIFA for the exclusive rights to the next two editions of the Women's World Cup. The 2030 World Cup, highly unusual for a global event, will be partially accessible through a paywall in one of the host countries, Spain.

Despite this, Netflix has pledged to make "one match per matchday" available for free viewing in Spain, alongside a "package of matches" including all Spain matches, both semi-finals, and the final, available for broadcasting on a national free-to-air broadcaster. The agreement also covers Andorra, potentially setting a precedent for future World Cup broadcasts.

FIFA General Secretary Mattias Grafstrom expressed his satisfaction, stating that the partnership aims to bring fans closer to the game and make the competition accessible to as many people as possible. Netflix's sports portfolio already includes major events such as the NFL Christmas Day broadcast, the Six Kings Slam tennis tournament, and various boxing matches, as well as a collection of sports documentaries.

The 2030 World Cup marks the 100th anniversary of the inaugural World Cup tournament, originally held in Uruguay in 1930.